The Lumine News

Category: Politics

  • Gov Nyesom Wike Visits Katsina State, Harps On National Unity

    Gov Nyesom Wike Visits Katsina State, Harps On National Unity

    By Joseph Ndifon

    Rivers State Governor, HE Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has enjoined Nigerians to work cohesively for the development of the country while calling on politicians across political divide to cultivate the virtue of prioritising national unity above personal interest.

    He stated this during a consultation visit to his Katsina State counterpart, Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari at the Katsina State Government House, Katsina.

    Governor Wike, a frontline presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who was in Katsina State to meet with party leaders and delegates ahead of the PDP National Convention later this month also deemed it proper to visit and notify Governor *Masari* of his presidential ambition.

    “I am formally informing you that I am making myself available to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And, I am here today to talk to delegates who will make it possible on the 28th and 29th of this month, which is our National Convention”.

    “We cannot say because you don’t belong to our party and therefore, we shouldn’t give you that respect, no, it is not allowed. By our tradition, party cannot divide us. Party is a vehicle that conveys you to your destination”.

    In his response, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State said it was gratifying that the Rivers State Governor is aspiring for the exalted office in Nigeria.

    “You have contributed immensely in your own way to the development of the political process in Nigeria. And, we really thank God people like you come from that part of the country; it shows confidence in the oneness of Nigeria and the political process”.

    The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further explained that he remained eternally grateful to the people of Rivers State for the immense support given to him while at the helm of affairs in the Green Chambers.

    “During my days as Speaker of the House of Representatives, if there is any one State I could count 100 percent support, it was Rivers State and we remain friends up till this moment. So anybody coming from Rivers State to wherever I am, he/she is welcome into my personal house or official residence”.

    While in Katsina, the incoming President also visited Hajia Aya Dada Yar’Adua, mother of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a woman who has not only been a blessing to Nigeria, but a Matriach in the history and political development of our Nation.

    The massive crowd as shown is a reflection of the support and legitimacy he enjoys across the states of the Federation, beyond party lines.

    Ndifon Joseph
    WIKE FOR PRESIDENT SUPPORT GROUP

  • Breaking: PDP Reschedules Primaries Election

    Breaking: PDP Reschedules Primaries Election

    May 4, 2022

    Press Statement

    2023: PDP Updates Timetable and Schedule of Activities
    …Shift Dates for LG Congress, SHOA, NASS, Governorship Primaries

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the update of the Party’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections as follows:

    1. Local Government Area (LGA) Congress to elect one National Delegate per LGA and one Person living with disability in the 774 Local Government Areas: Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

    2. State House of Assembly (State Constituency Congress): Wednesday, May 18, 2022

    3. House of Representatives Primaries: Friday, May 20, 2022

    4. Senatorial District Primaries: Saturday, May 21, 2022

    5. Governorship Primaries: Monday, May 23, 2022

    All aspirants to various positions, critical stakeholders, members of our Party across the country as well as relevant agencies of government should please take note.

    Signed:

    Hon. Debo Ologunagba
    National Publicity Secretary

  • Owan Enoh Insists That The One Form For APC Governorship Must Be Purchased In His Name

    Owan Enoh Insists That The One Form For APC Governorship Must Be Purchased In His Name

  • For Effective Representation, The Constituency Needs A Man Like KJay Jeddy-Agba – Ada Bekwarra II

    For Effective Representation, The Constituency Needs A Man Like KJay Jeddy-Agba – Ada Bekwarra II

    KJay Media

    The Ada Bekwarra II, Chief Hon Signor Omang Idiege has stated that the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku needs a man like KJay Jeddy-Agba for effective representation.

    Chief Idiege stated this at his country home, Gakem, Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, when Prince KJay Jeddy-Agba visited him to congratulate him on his conferment as the Ada Bekwarra II, after the death of Chief Linus Okom, and to inform him of his intention to contest for the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency election.

    In his words “It is a good thing for you to have an ambition such as this. KJay is a household name not only in our constitituency, but also in the national level. You are a man of the people.

    “For effective representation, the constitituency needs a man like you, KJay Jeddy-Agba as their representative”

    Chief Idiege assured KJay Jeddy-Agba of his prayers and victory as he go into the election.

    Earlier, the leading contender for the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency election, under the People’s Democratic Party PDP, KJay Jeddy-Agba congratulated Chief Hon Signor Omang Idiege on his conferment as the Ada Bekwarra II.

    Prince KJay noted that for Chief Omang Idiege to be conferred with the highest traditional title in Bekwarra, after the death of Chief Linus Okom, the pioneer holder of the title, speaks volume of the immense contribution of Chief Omang Idiege to the development of Bekwarra people and nation.

    KJay used the opportunity to inform Chief Omang Idiege of his ambition to contest for the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency election.

    He maintained that having been part of the people, he better understand the challenges faced by an average constituent in the constitituency that requires immediacy.

    He assured that stakeholder’s engagement will be a key factor and a stimulant to aid his representation, if given to opportunity to serve as member representing the good people of Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency.

  • Former Commissioner For Industry, Hon Peter Egba, Storms APC Party Secretariat, Declares For Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency

    Former Commissioner For Industry, Hon Peter Egba, Storms APC Party Secretariat, Declares For Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency

    By Samuel Irek

    The immediate past Commissioner for Industry Cross River State, Hon Peter Egba Akam has declared his intention to contest for the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 General Elections. The former Commissioner who is obviously the first to declare for the seat under the platform of APC, stormed the APC State Party Secretariat with an overwhelming crowd of supporters to declare his intention before the State leadership of the Party.

    Speaking during the declaration, the former Commissioner declared his readiness to drive a prosperity agenda for the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.

    “I want to thank my boss and the leader of our great party, the only digital Governor for the opportunity he gave some of us to serve our dear state. Of course, it has been a worthwhile experience serving under his purview. Today, I am standing tall because he offered me the opportunity”

    Speaking further on his aspiration to represent the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, the erstwhile Commissioner decried the present state of lack of representation in the federal Constituency.

    “For 12years till 2015, we had a lawmaker who represented us wonderfully well, as if he was a Governor of the state. This is because his representation cut across all the state. As a lawmaker, he offered employment and empowerment opportunities across the state. I have come here today to say that I want to step into those shoes that he left behind and to drive the prosperity agenda for our people. I understand that the basic duties of a lawmaker is lawmaking, which is representation and oversight function and I possess the social capital to meet other challenges incidental to my office. I have therefore come to say, please give me that opportunity to drive the prosperity agenda for my people and this party. Let me reiterate that it is not my duty to judge the performance of the current occupant but I will leave that to the court of Public opinion to Judge.

    In his reaction, the State Chairman of the Party, Barr. Alphonsus Eba, described the aspirant as a bosom friend who have shown enormous capacity and commitment to his people and party.

    “There come a time in the life of a man that he is put on the pulpit not to sermonize but to be tried. Today, I am under trial. I am on trial because a young man that our path crossed in 2015, became brothers, friends and allies is today running an election. And after the God he worships, after the boss he has, he has so much confidence that his friend is the Chairman and he has left his fate in the hands of his friend either to make or mar. So, I am on trial. I owe my brother and friend, every support and if it comes for me to do it, I will do it because that is Politics. I am consoled by the caliber of men I am seeing here today with my friend. In terms of capacity, I am sure that my friend has it in abundance”

    Source:

  • 2023: APC Delegates Should Seek Victory First Before Cash: BVAS Will Be Used BY JUSTIN OBONGHA

    2023: APC Delegates Should Seek Victory First Before Cash: BVAS Will Be Used BY JUSTIN OBONGHA

     

    Glorious greetings from God Most High and Happy Sunday to All Progressives Congress members and our dear DELEGATES. We are edging closer to our party’s primaries and I think it’s imperative we get to understand better, how the general elections especially Governorship in Cross River State may look like.

    As we begin to assemble delegates and entreat for support for our different aspirants, please do well to always let them know a few things that should guides their decision, thoughts and choice. Do well to tell them that, if they supports and eventually vote a wrong aspirant, our party will fail woefully in the GENERAL ELECTIONS.

    Tell the delegates that no bad candidate can win elections even by rigging. There’s a new technic that makes it impossible for rigging. It’s called BVAS. Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) is a device that replaced the smart card reader, which was used in 2015, with the dual capacity for fingerprint and facial authentication. BVAS is a technology solution based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is only as good as both the age of the data and the training that the algorithms receive.

    The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, is designed to inject technological impetus into our electoral system which makes it almost impossible to rig elections and had further reduced the power of incumbency.

    BVAS is designed to give our electoral system credibility and given the voters hope that their votes will begin to matter. As a DELEGATES, we should be careful with who we VOTE as CANDIDATE.

    2023 Governorship elections will be keenly contested. Our only advantage, will be fully dependent on the charisma, and likeliness of our candidate and not even the cash some aspirants are banking on.

    Electoral corruption, cutting corners in the electoral process, snatching ballot boxes and ballot papers would never easily be done in 2023 elections. The by-election in Ogoja, Yala and Akpabuyo LGAs should be like a litmus test and the results I think wasn’t to our party’s favor. If not for the NAME, JUDE NGAJI, APC would have failed woefully.

    So, let me say it very clearly that the BVAS as a form and mode of accreditation has come to stay, and the Commission isn’t ready to compromise it standard. And jettisoning of results will not be possible anymore. If the party gives ticket to someone whose victory will be dependent on rigging, or money, then we should be prepare for the worst.

    Secondly, tell the DELEGATES that the strength of the opposition, is almost the as the same both in popularity, cash and otherwise. And the personalities PDP are parading as aspirants can’t be easily defeated except the APC present a candidate who is loved and extremely outstanding in popularity and likeliness.

    We all know that Cross River State has for more than 20 years been ruled by the PDP and our people are deeply drunk with the name. So APC needs a candidate that is as old as PDP and more popular than the PDP as a party. Anything less, will be catastrophic to our victory.

    Aspirants will come with money; some 200k, 300k, 500k and others may tempt you with even a million naira as a DELEGATES just to vote him to become CANDIDATE of our GREAT party, but be guided with the fact that the general elections has changed and we won’t enjoy the power of incumbency and therefore, we cannot rig elections.

    Be it your brother, friend, master, boss, father or whatever relationship you share with any of the aspirants, be true to yourself, to them and to the party. Out collective interest as a party, is to win elections and continue to be the RULING party in the State.

    This is my wise counsel to the DELEGATES and PARTY members.

    Justin Obongha.

  • Caterpillar Movement Debunks Rumors Of Sandy Onor Picking Senatorial Form, Called On Supporters To Remain Unperturbed

    Caterpillar Movement Debunks Rumors Of Sandy Onor Picking Senatorial Form, Called On Supporters To Remain Unperturbed

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

    PRESS STATEMENT

    We, in the Caterpillar Movement have come across a fictitious newstory by one Citizen Ekanem Essien purporting that our Principal, Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor has ” technically withdrawn ” from the Gubernatorial contest by picking dual forms for both the Gubernatorial and senatorial elections as a contingency in the event of failure.

    We wish to outrightly debunk this malicious rumor by stating that Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor has never been one to shy away from a fight, especially one that is done with the public interest at heart.

    Furthermore, Our principal, Sen. Onor would never venture into a course with double minds or cold feet to the extent of cowering by attempting to contest for two positions at once.

    For the records, we wish to state clearly that only the Gubernatorial Nomination form was purchased by our Principal because he believes strongly in his credentials, competence and capacity to emerge victorious. The unwholesome act of buying two forms at a time is a practice set aside for losers to showcase their cowardice by being unsure about their political aspiration.

    Our Principal is decisive, precise and Lucid enough about his intentions to rescue Cross River state from the shackles of maladministration currently experienced and is therefore reticent to subscribe to political gimmicks.

    Let those who are cowards continue to be indecisive and at a quandary but we in the Caterpillar Movement are solely only interested in the Gubernatorial Position. We are confident that victory is sure.
    Once more, we enjoin our supporters to continue to remain peaceful and unperturbed by this deliberate distraction by the true enemies of our dear State .
    Again they have failed and will continue to fail.

    God bless us all.

    Joe Obi Bisong (Hon. Chief)
    Director General

  • Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    20th April 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition
    ……canvass for Power Shift.

    Yesterday, Tuesday 19th April 2022, the State Executive Committee and members of our party received in audience a gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. The campaign team led by the aspirant arrived the party Secretariat around 3:45pm.

    Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Gubernatorial aspirant thanked the party for receiving her team. Declaring her intention to join the Gubernatorial race, Barr. Mrs Adegoke canvassed for a power Shift in the Politics of the State.

    “My name is Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. I am officially declaring my intention to run for the Governorship position of this state. I believe in democracy, which is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, not a government of the elite and the privileged few. As a lawyer with almost 40years’ experience, I had as a lawyer to NUPENG from 1988 to 1996, negotiated better working conditions for oppressed junior oil and gas workers with Integrity, refusing offers to sell out their interest. This experience drives my passion to ensure that under my Government, we will aggressively combat the recalcitrant conduct of labour employers in the state. Driven by my passion as Chairman of Bonny Environmental Consultants’ Committee from 1997 to 2002 with power to negotiate with Nigeria LNG, Shell Petroleum Development Company etc, on behalf of Bonny Kingdom, I led negotiations and ensured transparent compensations to impacted Communities. I will bring same commitment and passion to bear in Cross River State by ensuring that all companies extracting our resources Commit to ensuring that the rural Communities benefit from an approved and robust Corporate Social Responsibility budget”

    On insecurity, the legal practitioner advocated the deployment of forensics in tackling Security challenges. While summarizing her manifesto under the acronym “SHIFT”. On Zoning, the aspirant enjoined the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground while assuring the party that she’s not running on the basis of gender as she believe she’s the best for the job.

    Reacting to the comment, the state Chairman of the Party, Barr. Venatius Ikem eulogized the aspirant for taking the bold step to declare, while assuring her of a level playing ground.

    “I want to thank you for speaking so eloquently like a gentleman of the bar. You left no one in doubt. All the women that came here to consult have been exceptional but you have come to top all of them. I want to assure you that the party will give all Aspirants a level playing ground. It is only in PDP that you will come yesterday and we guarantee you a level playing ground because we are a democratic party. I want to also thank you for not talking about North, South or Central. We need a Candidate that can deliver. I am happy you did not talk about zoning”

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

    Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

     

    A front line contender to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Godwin Agbor has formerly declared his Intention to contest the election under the All Progressive Congress APC.

    The declaration was held on Monday 18th April, 2022 at his home town, Ukpada – Utugwang, Obudu Local Government Area as part of the Easter celebration with his ward party members, leaders, councillors, ward Chairmen and Secretaries, chapter Chairman and Vice Chairman.

    Declaring his intention, Dr Agbor stated that he has consulted the leadership of the party at all level and he is still consulting and so decided to formerly declare his intention to contest election.

    He assured that which ever modality the party will adopt for the selection of its flag bearer, he will emerge victorious by God’s grace.

    Dr Agbor averred that his loyalty to the party is evidently clear and that most of those who parade themselves as loyal members of the party do so because they are in the payroll of his Excellency, if you remove the salary from them, they may want to leave the party.

    “I have a lot of bills to bring to the table for good governance which will take care of the youths, the women and the elders. If you liken our political sojourn to Catholicism, you will realize that I have done my baptism, I am only waiting for confirmation. Most of those who have indicated interest are preparing for baptism” Said Agbor.

    He assured that most of his bills will come from his constituents through town hall meetings.

    Agbor maintained that he has capacity, qualifications and has impacted his people through community services and that the people are witnesses to his impact.

    Agbor maintained that the party now more than ever needs credible candidates that will be accepted across party lines to win the general election.

    Responding, Mr Agorye Ajang commended Dr Agbor for the initiative and bold step to contest the election, having consulted the relevant stakeholders.
    He advised Dr Agbor to avoid having issues with other aspirants, as they will support whoever the party chooses to fly the flag.

    The Ward Chairman of Utugwang North, Mr Paul Akpanke thanked Dr Agbor for his boldness and advocated for primaries which will offer them the opportunity to participate in the process, as they will not have any role to play if the process is going to be by consensus.

    In his vote of thanks, the Councilor representing Utugwang Central, Hon Emma Adinyang commended Dr Agbor and used the opportunity to call on the party to explore the direct or indirect mode of primaries as the use of consensus post potential danger to unity of the part.

    Dr Agbor is the Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Boki, Cross River State and currently the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP Cross River State.

    He is a practising Catholic and a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, Sub Council Physician. He is married to Mrs Adeline Agbor and is blessed with Children. He was the Coordinator and Supervisor for the APC registration and revalidation exercise in Obudu. He was the APC flag bearer in the December 2020 Obudu State Constituency bye-election to replace the late Hon Godwin Akwaji.

     

  • Southern Senatorial District Group Presses For Chris Agara To Take Over From Ayade In 2023, Sees Him As The Right Person To Continue With Ayade Legacy Of Development

    Southern Senatorial District Group Presses For Chris Agara To Take Over From Ayade In 2023, Sees Him As The Right Person To Continue With Ayade Legacy Of Development

     

    A group from the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State has called on Mr. Chris Agara to step into the race for the governorship of Cross River State to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade come May 29, 2023.

    The political support group which has membership across the seven Local government Areas of the district known as “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy,” (SSDSACAL), through a statement signed by the group Chairman Comrade Asuquo Asuquo Etim, dated April 11, 2022, said the political group has chosen to pull all its resources Chris Agara without ethnic or religious sentiments.

    Mr. Etim who is from Akpabuyo LGA emphatically asserted that Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State and that their position is without ethnic or senatorial sentiments, but for the progragress of Cross River State.

    “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy want to emphatically state without ethnic or senatorial Biase That Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State,” Etim maintained.

    The group through the  Chairman further stressed that Chris Agara has been with Governor Ayade for a long time and take part in the great industrial and other projects and programmes development right from. The inception and actually understand the mind set of the initiator, Ayade and  completely share in that vision.

    Etim went on to explained that the business of taking  Cross River State from obscurity to indusrial heights and to an all round developmental transformation at this moment goes beyond the issue of rotational argument to a man who possess the know-how to continue with the aggressive development  pedigree which Governor Ayade has set in motion in the state.

    “We understand and appreciate the argument that in 1999 the governorship started from the South, went to the Central and then the North, then it should return to the South, an idea which the governor himself is strongly behind. However we asa group look beyond this argument to the general interest of the state and the continuity of the great  development blueprint of Ayade,” he stressed.

    Arguing further, Etim explained that it is still the same” if Chris Agara finishes his terms, we know that the South will take its two terms and them reverse to the North since at this time both the Central and South had taken their two terms leaving only the North with one round and will need to go for its own second round. ”

    The SSDSACAL Chairman called on Chris Agara to come out frontally to contest for the 2023 number one political position in Cross River State and that the groupyand other similar groups will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that Chris Agara emerge as the winner of the governorship race and be sworn in on May 29, 2023.

    He therefore appealed to all Cross Riverians to file behind Chris Agara desire to take over from Ayade next year to continue with the development projects and programmes of Governor Ayade.